Black Ascot

Charles Todd is the New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. A mother-and-son writing team, Caroline passed away in August 2021 and Charles lives in Florida.

“An absolute winner! The Black Ascot delivers everything we’ve come to love about an Ian Rutledge novel... If there’s ever been a more complex and compelling hero in crime fiction than Inspector Rutledge, I can’t think of one.”— Jeffery Deaver on The Black Ascot“The authors... never let the series settle into an easy formula, and they always keep the reader guessing. This one feels just as fresh as the early Rutledge novels.” — Booklist on The Black Ascot“The investigation and its ultimate destination are gripping.” — Kirkus Reviews on The Black Ascot“Readers can’t ask for more than Todd’s masterful plotting, terrific characters and one of the finest protagonists in modern suspense.”— BookPage.com, Top Pick in Mystery“The best one yet.... It is a rare case when a book this far into a series can still surprise.... Highly recommended for historical mystery fans.”— BOLO Books Review“Exceptionally clever plot... As always, Todd... deepen[s] their crafty whodunit with a moving exploration of their astute sleuth’s inner torments.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)Praise for The Gate Keeper: “As always in this singular series, the mother-and-son team who write as Charles Todd position their mystery within the broader context of a nation frozen in postwar depression….The melancholy tone that distinguishes the Rutledge series is a reminder that war never ends for the families and friends of lost loved ones. It just retreats into the shadows.” — Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review“This mystery is one of the finest in the series... One of the best I have read by Charles Todd—very highly recommended!” — Historical Novels Review on The Gate Keeper“Somber, moving, and utterly spellbinding...evocative....Rutledge’s ongoing courageous refusal to surrender to the dark forces buffeting him on all sides is a shining example of resolve, nerve, and decency, and makes haunted Ian Rutledge impossible to drive out of one’s mind.” — Strand Magazine on A Long Shadow“A masterpiece of imagination.” — Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author, on the Ian Rutledge series“Charles Todd (actually a mother-son writing team) pulls off the voice-in-the-head device exquisitely. Moreover, the series is populated with highly nuanced characters, and the historical research is spot on. In Racing the Devil, the pacing is compelling.” — Newark Star Ledger on Racing the Devil